Pocket Watch Database

Pocket Watch Serial Number Lookup Database

trending_up Now Trending

Pocket Watch 101: What is a Safety Pinion?

The power that allows a pocket watch to operate is provided by the mainspring. This large spring is coiled tightly inside the mainspring barrel as the watch is wound. Once the watch is running, the power is slowly expelled by the escapement, located at the end of the wheel train. With each "tick" a small amount of force from the mainspring is released, and the wheels rotate slightly... Continue Reading

by Nathan Moore, 4 days ago


history Recently Posted

1868 Robbins & Appleton Advertisement for Waltham Watches with Fogg's Patent Safety Pinion

By 1868, the American Watch Company in Waltham, Massachusetts, had built the foundation for the watch industry in the United States and secured a place as the premier leader in the market. During this time, the firm Robbins & Appleton served as the factory's sales agent, promoting "Waltham Watches" in a variety of publications. The original advertisement featured in this post leads with the claim that 400,000 Waltham Watches had been sold when published in November 1868 (publication source unknown). "400,000 of these Watches are now speaking for themselves in the pockets of the people - a proof and a guarantee of their superiority, and furnishing the best reason for their great popularity, and justifying the preference uniformly shown them by the public." The advertisement continues by praising the watches made at the factory in Waltham, with special attention given to Fogg's patent safety pinion, one of the most significant new features implemented in production: "An experience of nearly fifteen years has furnished the AMERICAN WATCH COMPANY the opportunity of thoroughly testing all really valuable inventions in Watch-making; and it being the sole aim of the Company to produce Watches which, as time-keepers, would bear comparison with the very best made any where, they now confidently asset that the WALTHAM WATCHES have every improvement which time and experience proved valuable... Continue Reading

by Nathan Moore, 1 week ago


history Recently Posted

The First Cutout Plate Design Patented by Frederick A. Giles for the United States Watch Company

In early 1866, Frederick A. Giles received two separate patents for watch plate designs - one would become the iconic "butterfly cutout" that collectors associate with watches from the United States Watch Company (Marion), while the other was never used in general production. Giles patented his butterfly cutout plate in March 1866, approximately two weeks after his first design. Both creations featured cutouts to expose the escapement through the top plate... Continue Reading

by Nathan Moore, 3 weeks ago



Recent Watch Lookups

Recent Collection Uploads

0 Admirations
Serial No.: #15968422
Manufacturer:Elgin
Grade:292
Size:16s
Model:6
Jewels:7j
Setting:Pendant
Finish:Gilt
Est. Date:1911
Added By:EndlessHunt Profile Image EndlessHunt
2 Admirations
Serial No.: #3951454
Manufacturer:Illinois
Grade:Bunn Special
Size:16s
Model:9
Jewels:21j
Setting:Lever
Finish:Nickel
Est. Date:1921
Added By:SierraDelta Profile Image SierraDelta
2 Admirations
Serial No.: #18768915
Manufacturer:Waltham
Grade:No. 625
Size:16s
Model:1908
Jewels:17j
Setting:Pendant
Finish:Nickel
Est. Date:1912
Added By:SierraDelta Profile Image SierraDelta
4 Admirations
Serial No.: #2354127
Manufacturer:Waltham
Grade:A.T. & Co.
Size:18s
Model:1883
Jewels:15j
Setting:Pendant
Finish:Frosted
Est. Date:November 1884 - August 1885
Added By:james9806 Profile Image james9806
3 Admirations
Serial No.: #849687
Manufacturer:U.S. Watch Co. (Waltham, Mass)
Grade:Betsy Ross
Size:0s
Model:1907
Jewels:7j
Setting:Pendant
Finish:Nickel
Est. Date:1907
Added By:james9806 Profile Image james9806
2 Admirations
Serial No.: #25519219
Manufacturer:Waltham
Grade:No. 610
Size:16s
Model:1908
Jewels:7j
Setting:Pendant
Finish:Gilt or Nickel
Est. Date:1926
Added By:MP1951 Profile Image MP1951
3 Admirations
Serial No.: #12033549
Manufacturer:Waltham
Grade:Vanguard
Size:18s
Model:1892
Jewels:23j
Setting:Lever
Finish:Nickel
Est. Date:1902
Added By:SierraDelta Profile Image SierraDelta
9 Admirations
Serial No.: #6500184
Manufacturer:Waltham
Grade:American Watch Co.
Size:16s
Model:1888
Jewels:19j
Setting:Pendant
Finish:Nickel
Est. Date:April 1894 - January 1896
Added By:tctimepieces Profile Image tctimepieces
9 Admirations
Serial No.: #4917388
Manufacturer:Waltham
Grade:Riverside
Size:16s
Model:1888
Jewels:15j
Setting:Pendant
Finish:Two-Tone
Est. Date:May 1891 - August 30, 1891
Added By:tctimepieces Profile Image tctimepieces

Popular Watches For Sale

When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.